Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also known as Dawn Redwood, is a fast growing deciduous conifer with feathery fern like foliage that turns coppery orange in fall before dropping. Once thought extinct, this “living fossil” adds vertical interest and prehistoric texture to landscapes thriving in moist areas. Its soft needles and symmetrical pyramidal form make it a striking focal tree in large gardens and parks.
Height & Spread: 50 - 100 ft x 20 - 30 ft
Bloom Time: Non flowering
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Preference: Moist, well drained or even boggy soils; tolerates clay
Watering Needs: Moderate to high; prefers consistent moisture
Deer Resistance: Not typically browsed by deer
Native Status
This species is native to central China and is not native to North America. It was reintroduced to cultivation in the mid 20th century and has since become a valuable landscape tree for temperate regions.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Birds
- Provides shelter and nesting sites for cavity nesting birds like chickadees and nuthatches in mature trees.
Beneficial Insects
- Encourages healthy insect diversity in wetland and riparian zones where it is often planted.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 20 - 30 ft apart for full canopy development; allow ample root zone room.
Landscape Placement:
- Ideal for large lawns, near water features, or as an avenue tree in moist soils with room to mature.
Companion Plants
- Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) - Feathery fronds mirror the soft texture of dawn redwood foliage in shaded bases.
- Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant) - Late summer spikes bring color contrast and attract pollinators along moist borders.
- Carex muskingumensis (Palm Sedge) - Graceful arching blades complement wet tolerant tree roots and thrive in similar soil.
- Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) - Yellow spring blooms brighten boggy sites beneath young trees.
- Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' - Upright shrub offers seasonal berries and deep green leaves under redwood canopy edges.